Chapter 10

The next morning Mark woke up first. He lay in bed looking at Roger sleeping peacefully next to him. They had taken a very long shower last night, during which, they discussed what they were going to do about Mimi. As they got ready to get out of the shower, Roger placed his hand on Mark's arm.

Mark had turned to him. "What is it?" he had asked.

"I think I need to tell Ana about April and my AIDS." Roger said softly. "It just seems like it's the right thing to do. Plus I may not have that much longer to live and I want her to know why."

Mark had nodded. "Hey, it's your story to tell babe." he told Roger. "I think you should tell it if you feel ready."

Roger smiled. "I do." he said.

Now it was morning and Roger was still asleep. So Mark decided to go have some time with Ana. He got out of bed and dressed quickly. Then he opened the bedroom door and went into the hallway. He heard the familiar chords of Muzetta's Waltz coming from Ana's room.

Mark stood in her doorway listening to her play. She finished playing and he applauded. Ana blushed and took a small bow.

"You have no idea how many times I have heard that played incorrectly." Mark told her with a grin. "It's so refreshing to hear it the right way."

"Oh Mark." Ana said laughing.

He laughed too. "I'm serious." he told her. "So how about we watch some Harry Potter before our Roger wakes up?" he then suggested.

"Yeah!" She said, bouncing out of the room ahead of him.

"See, this movie proves that Harry doesn't always need Dumbledore's help to survive." Mark said.

"Yeah he did a good job of getting away from Voldemort, but if Dumbledore hadn't come busting in, Harry would have been at the mercy of Barty Crouch Jr." Ana said back.

"That's true." Mark had to admit. "Dumbledore always seems to know what's going on. It's hard to believe he fell for Snape's ruse and got killed."

Ana looked up at him. "This may sound crazy, but I don't think he's dead. I mean he was on top of every thing all the time. He wouldn't let himself go down without a fight. His body may be gone, but maybe not his soul." she said.

Mark's eyes widened. "But the only way for him to have done that would be…" he trailed off.

Ana nodded. "A Horcrux." she said. "I think he might have made one."

"But that's evil Dark Magic." Mark argued. "He wouldn't."

Ana shrugged. "He might have thought it was necessary. If Dumbledore was willing to do anything to stop Voldemort then he would've had to make sure nothing could happen to himself."

"Okay, so let's say that Dumbledore did make a Horcrux. What would it be? He has dozens of little trinkets." Mark said.

"I know. Personally I'm leaning toward Fawkes." Ana responded.

"Fawkes!" Mark exclaimed. "The phoenix?"

"Yeah." Ana replied. "Voldemort might be using Nagini the snake as one; so why couldn't Dumbledore use Fawkes? I mean phoenixes can't be killed right? They just keep regenerating. So what better place to house your soul?"

"Now that's an interesting theory." Mark commended her. "I have one of my own. Would you like to hear it?"

"Of course."

"Well you know how Dumbledore has all those valuable things, like Gryffindor's sword and the Sorting Hat right?" he asked.

Ana nodded.

"What if Dumbledore is descended from one of the founders?"

"Which one?" she wanted to know.

"I think Godric Gryffindor. I mean you don't see him pulling out anything of Hufflepuff's or Ravenclaw's and you know the only thing he had from the Slytherin line was that ring he got from Gaunt's house." Mark told her. "Also I think that Percy Weasley might go over to Voldemort's side."

"I agree with you on that one." Ana said. "Percy is just too ambitious. He would sell out his own family to make himself look good. Voldemort might offer him a place of power and then Percy would be putty in his hands."

Mark nodded. "That's exactly what I was thinking."

"Oh God, not Harry Potter talk again." Roger said groaning as he came into the room.

"Good morning to you too Rog." Mark said getting up to kiss him. Roger returned the kiss and then went over and ruffled Ana's hair.

"How you doing kid?" He asked her fondly.

"I'm fine. How you doing Roger?" she asked back. "You seemed really upset last night."

"I was upset last night." Roger told her. "But it's a new morning and I'm not going to let what happened get me down."

"Good." Mark said. He gave Roger a questioning look. Roger nodded. "So I've got to be at work in an hour. I need to get ready to go."

Roger grinned at Mark's retreating back. "In addition to being the mother figure he's also the workaholic parent." he told Ana. Then he got serious. "Anastasia, do you think I could talk to you for a bit?" he asked timidly.

"Of course you can." Ana said. "What's up?"

Roger took a deep breath. "You know how last night I asked Mimi if she was still taking her AZT."

"Yeah." Ana replied. "I've heard Mark tell you to take yours. What is AZT anyway?"

"It's short for Azidothymidine. It's a pill that helps people who have HIV and AIDS." Roger told her softly.

"So Mimi has HIV?" Ana wanted to know.

"No, she has full-blown AIDS now." he said. "Like me."

Ana's grey eyes widened. "But how did you get it?" she asked him.

"By being stupid." He responded. "Years ago when I was young and had dreams of being a rock star, I met this girl. She was so pretty and funny and she supported my music. Her name was April. She had these friends who were into drugs, eventually they became my friends too. They told me I could sound so much better as a musician if I played when I was high. I wanted more than anything to play better so I started getting high all the time. Sometimes I wouldn't even remember the concerts I played. Then April started using drugs too."

"What drug did you use?" Ana wanted to know.

"Mostly any that I could get my hands on. But I liked heroin the best. It gave me the biggest rush. April used it too. Then one day she found out she was HIV positive."

"Did she get it from you?" Ana asked.

Roger shook his head. "No, it came from all of us sharing one dirty needle when we would shoot up. So April had HIV that turned out to be full blown AIDS. I didn't know until-" he broke off.

Ana went over and sat down next to him. She wrapped her arms around him and said: "It's okay Roger."

Roger smiled at the girl. "I didn't know until I came home one day and April had slit her wrists and left me a note that said 'We've got AIDS'. So I went and got myself checked out. She was right, I did have AIDS. Then I gave up drugs forever. I didn't tell you all this to freak you out or anything. I just wanted you to know what is going on, because I won't always be here. One day this disease is going to catch up with me and I'll be gone." Then he saw the worried look on Ana's face and he smiled at her again.

"But don't worry. That won't happen for a while. I've still got plenty of time to get to know you Ana. And I intend to use it." He said.

"Does Mark have-?" Ana asked timidly.

Roger shook his head. "No not Mark. He was too smart for that. Still is. But Collins has AIDS, not Maureen or Joanne. Or Sara as far as I know." he told her.

There was a long silence then. But it was soon broken by Mark who came rushing into the room with his keys in one hand and his camera bag in the other.

"Bye you two." he said as he headed toward the door. "I'll be home by six. Be good."

"I will." Ana said.

"I was actually talking to Roger." Mark said with a grin. "I know you'll be good." Then he turned to Roger. "Walk me out?" he asked.

"Yeah okay." he agreed getting up and following Mark.

When they got outside Mark looked at Roger. "So how did it go?"

"It went well." Roger responded. "She took it very well. I'm proud of her."

Mark smiled and kissed Roger on the lips. "I'm proud of you." he said. "And now I am late, so I'll see you later." They kissed once more and then Mark got in the car and drove away.

Roger went back into the house and found Ana reading a Harry Potter book. He sat down beside her. "Why don't you explain to me what's going on in these books and why you and Mark like them so much." he suggested.

"Okay." Ana agreed and promptly began telling him all about Harry's adventures.

Mimi woke up that morning feeling very lightheaded and upset. Darren had left her a note that said he had to go into work early and for her to stay in bed.

"I don't want to stay in bed." Mimi said to herself. So she got up and got ready to go to work.

When she arrived at the Pascal Theater Sara was just walking up to it. She turned and saw Mimi coming and her eyes widened in surprise.

"I didn't think you were coming in today Mimi." she commented. Mimi just kept walking like she didn't hear her.

Sara sighed. Apparently Mimi was still upset that she had told Mark and Roger about her problems. "Mimi please talk to me. I only told Mark and Roger because I was worried about you." she called as she hurried to catch up with Mimi.

Mimi finally stopped. "Sara," she said turning to face her. "there is no need to be worried about me. I'm going to be fine."

"How do you know that Mimi?" Sara asked softly. "You could be pregnant for all you know. Why don't you just go to the doctor?"

"I don't need to." Mimi said curtly. ""Now come on or we'll both be late for practice and I'm the teacher."

Sara had no choice but to follow her into the dance studio of the theater.

Author's Note: Sorry these chapters are getting longer and longer. It is going to take me a while to be able to update so I want to keep the story moving. Don't worry though I promise I will try t get more frequent with the chapter updates of this and RENT: The Real Story.